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Controlling gorse on private land is never as simple as it sounds and in a forestry context, its aggressive nature and environmental impacts mean landowners need more than good intentions. Source: Timberbiz Successful management of Tasmania’s highly invasive woody weed, Gorse (Ulex europaeus), in private forests demands adherence to regulations, coupled with a strategic, ecologically informed approach and a clear vision for future land use. Private Forests Tasmania Forestry Specialist Dion McKenzie said landowners need to be aware of regulatory requirements when undertaking gorse control in forested or woodland environments. Mr McKenzie said no gorse program should begin without consulting the Forest Practices Act 1985. Any operation that clears, pushes over or otherwise destroys trees capable of reaching five metres is a forest practice and usually needs a certified Forest Practices Plan (FPP). “If gorse control will remove, damage or kill native vegetation – even indirectly – it may be deemed tree‑clearing,” Mr McKenzie said. “Undertaking forest practices without an approved FPP can trigger compliance action by the Forest Practices Authority (FPA), including fines and remediation orders. “A phone call to a Forest Practices Officer before you start can save you money and grief.” Resources such as the Gorse Management Leaflet [add hyperlink] are available via the Forest Practices Authority and offer practical advice and regulatory guidance. A simple flow chart on the FPA website helps landowners decide whether their job is exempt. Mr McKenzie said gorse is highly flammable, aggressive in its spread, and tenacious in seed survival, it can choke out native vegetation, hinder forest operations, and elevate fire risks. “Firstly, it’s a prolific flowerer that can produce seed even when young – and older plants generate enormous seed banks,” Mr McKenzie said. “Secondly, those seeds have a hard coat and can survive in the soil for decades. “In a forestry context, gorse can limit access for any monitoring or active management such as pruning, and it can also increase the fire hazard significantly as it is highly flammable.” He said these traits mean any control method – whether mechanical, chemical, or fire – must be supported by an extended follow-up plan. Mr McKenzie said fire can in fact promote seed germination, meaning it may need to be used cautiously and only at the right time in the control process. Forestry consultant Alex Tabor said successful gorse control comes down to having a long-term management plan. Ms Tabor works with private landowners across Tasmania, helping them avoid unintended damage to native ecosystems when tackling weeds. “Getting rid of gorse is not actually the end goal. You need to have a clear vision for what you want that land to look like when the gorse is gone,” she said. “Woodland environments where gorse is present are often already under threat, and overly aggressive removal of gorse particularly using fire, can worsen the situation. “If you burn it too early, the gorse burns so hot you can kill all your trees, make the infestation worse, and possibly breach the Forest Practices Code.” From a practical forestry perspective, gorse also presents logistical and operational problems. “Selecting tree species that grow rapidly and are suited to the site can give them a competitive advantage,” Mr McKenzie said. “Good weed control during establishment and rapid early growth is essential. “A species with a dense canopy will shade out the understorey and reduce gorse germination over time. “Active managed planted forests can be a good option for assisting with gorse management and making land productive again.” The Gorse National Best Practice Manual is a science‑based guide to helping manage gorse and key actions in developing a control plan include: Define problem areas through property or control area mapping using aerial photos, existing maps, or hand-drawn visuals. Determine and map control priorities – rank infestations by priority, assess legal and ethical responsibilities, align with regional plans, and use overlays or GIS to map priorities and ecological considerations over a minimum five-year control plan. Determine integrated gorse management options by assessing available resources, legal requirements, potential impacts on neighbours, and planning for initial control, follow-up, and ongoing monitoring. Develop a financial plan by estimating management and labour costs for each infestation, budgeting for both short- and long-term control, considering available financial support, and including future follow-up actions. Develop a long-term, flexible gorse control schedule that enables annual follow-up, considers seasonal effectiveness and labour availability, and integrates with broader land management activities. Monitor and document gorse control efforts by mapping progress, recording methods and costs, checking for regrowth or new outbreaks annually, and taking repeat photos to assess effectiveness over time. Conduct annual follow-up of treated infestations using the most suitable method, as regrowth and new germination are likely to occur. Alex said many landowners underestimate the time and cost involved in gorse control, which she labelled and “open-ended problem”. “For major infestations, landowners should plan for a five-to-10-year control program, followed by ongoing maintenance to prevent re-establishment,” Ms Tabor said. “Budget on at least five to ten years of staged control, then lifelong surveillance. “Follow-up maintenance isn’t just once or twice – it’s ongoing, and it must be tailored to what’s coming back each time. “People often let gorse infestations go on for decades. Once you lose the diversity in these ecosystems, it’s hard to restore it. “The earlier you get in, the less intensive and expensive it will be.”

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OneFortyOne has launched a community survey in the Green Triangle region covering Southeast SA and Western Victoria. Source: Timberbiz The survey aims to gauge community awareness and perception of OneFortyOne, including recognition of the brand, understanding of the forestry and sawmilling company’s activities, and sentiment. OneFortyOne Corporate Affairs Manager Charlene Riley said the insights gathered will inform future engagement strategies and help strengthen community relationships. “We value the opinions of our community and want to hear from you,” she said. “Your feedback, positive or negative, will help improve how we engage and communicate.” The survey questions are mostly multiple choice, and designed to be simple, taking only about 10 minutes to complete. “This survey is your chance to have input into how OneFortyOne connects with the community,” Ms Riley said. The survey is anonymous; however, participants have the option of entering the draw to win one of 5 $250 VISA gift cards if they share their name and contact. The survey is open now, available online via www.surveymonkey.com/r/OneFortyOne it closes on 27th July 2025.

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The New Zealand Government has taken a major step towards protecting food production by ending the large-scale conversion of productive farmland into pine plantations, with the first reading of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme — Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill receiving unanimous support in Parliament last night. Source: Timberbiz “This Bill is about protecting our most valuable land that grows food for export and sustains rural communities,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay said. “For too long, ETS incentives have driven the wrong outcomes for our rural sector.” “Once farms are planted in trees as a result of carbon credits we lose the ability to produce the high-quality safe food that consumers demand – and we lose rural jobs, export earnings, and the families that go with them. Today we are putting a stop to the harm that this has done to rural New Zealand.” The Bill will: Prevent exotic forests from entering the ETS on LUC 1–5 land (New Zealand’s most productive soil); Limit new ETS registrations on LUC 6 land to 15,000 hectares per year, allocated by ballot; Allow up to 25 per cent of a farm to go into the ETS, preserving landowner choice while ending full-farm conversions; Protect eligible Māori-owned land, and provide time-limited exemptions for pre-announced investments. The Bill includes temporary exemptions where an investor can provide evidence of a qualifying forestry investment between 1 January 2021 and 4 December 2024. For instance, the purchase of land and ordering of trees prior to 4 December 2024 would be an example of proof of a qualifying investment, whilst each of these actions alone would not. “The last Government sat back while 300,000 hectares of farmland were sold off for carbon credits. That short-sighted policy puts ideology ahead of long-term food security. We’re reversing that damage.” The new settings will take effect from 4 December 2024, with the law coming fully into force in October 2025.

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Forest & Wood Products Australia has released its Standard G01: Recycled Timber – Visually Graded for Structural Purposes, the first national guideline designed specifically for the visual grading of recycled hardwood timber for structural applications. Source: Timberbiz Through close engagement with industry, recyclers, engineers, and government, this Standard supports the use of more wood products in construction and lays the groundwork to assist with Australia’s transition to circular construction by ensuring the safe and reliable use of structural recycled timber. It complements existing standards for new sawn timber, while addressing the unique characteristics of reclaimed materials — such as signs of previous use ( bolt holes, notches), ageing, features, and variations in appearance and performance. This standard provides clear, nationally consistent grading criteria tailored to recycled structural timber. It promotes detailed communication between suppliers and purchasers, encourages sample inspections, and enables market confidence in recycled products through a quality assurance framework. The grades defined under this Standard are unique to recycled timber and should be used independently of existing standards (AS 2082 and AS 3818 series). “This standard reflects FWPA’s commitment to supporting circularity and environmental responsibility across the timber industry,” said Boris Iskra, National Codes & Standards Manager at FWPA. “By providing a consistent approach to grading recycled hardwood, we’re giving industry the confidence to produce recycled structural timber and specifier’s confidence to use this material in structural applications.  It’s a milestone in the broader effort to unlock the full potential of timber reuse in Australia.” The launch of FWPA Standard G01 follows the earlier publication of FWPA Standard G02: Recycled Timber – Visually Graded Decorative Products, which provides visual grading guidance for recycled hardwood used in non-structural and decorative applications. Like G01, the G02 standard was developed with input from a diverse group of stakeholders and includes both mandatory and advisory provisions to account for the distinct characteristics of recycled timber. Together, Standards G01 and G02 form a coordinated framework for the responsible reuse of hardwood timber, addressing both structural and aesthetic applications. They empower industry participants to make informed decisions that reduce waste, support sustainability, and build confidence in using recycled timber products. “This Standard fills a critical gap for builders and engineers seeking to incorporate recycled hardwood in structural projects,” said Michael Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy’s Timber. “It offers the clarity and confidence we need to promote more sustainable building choices.” To learn more and download the FWPA G01 Recycled Timber – Visually Graded for Structural Purposes click on https://fwpa.com.au/codes-standards/fwpa-standard-g01-recycled-timber-visually-graded-for-structural-purposes/

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